The role of substrate, flow and larval supply to recruitment of the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

Precipitous declines in wild populations of the red abalone Haliotis rufescens and the eventual closure of the commercial and southern recreational fishery have led to renewed interest in supplementing wild stocks with hatchery-raised individuals. Most work to date has focused on releasing small juveniles and has had limited success. Although much is known about larval settlement, juvenile survivorship and growth of abalone, there is scanty information on natural processes in the field. The failure of many regulated fisheries worldwide suggests that both the larval and juvenile stages may be important in determining the future population, and that early juvenile mortality is more important than previously believed. This paper presents a series of experiments designed to examine factors and mechanisms that could affect settlement, survivorship, and growth of larvae and early post-settlers in the field. Laboratory trials under different flow regimes showed that red abalone larvae settled preferentially on substrates encrusted with coralline algae, and that settlement was rapid when exposed to crusts compared to other surfaces. Urchin grazing of films appeared to facilitate abalone settlement but only when urchins were removed. Initial field experiments showed that released larvae settled on natural cobble rock, and that settlement was at least one order of magnitude greater when settlement habitats were tented. I then examined post-settlement survivorship at one and two days after settlement, and found that although there was a large amount of variation, on average 10% of released larvae were found as newly-settled recruits after 1 day. Survivorship and growth of recruits were followed over at least one month in both Spring and Fall. Abalone settled at higher densities, survived better and grew faster in the warmer Fall months than in the Spring. The density of month-old abalone recruits was correlated with density of naturally-occurring gastropods in the Spring, but not in the Fall. These results suggest that settlement and survivorship can be extremely variable across space and time, and that oceanographic and local biotic conditions play a role and should be considered when planning larval seeding.

双壳贝类幼虫变态诱导及其机理研究

变态过程是双壳贝类由幼虫向成体转变的一个必不缺少的发育阶段。研究双壳贝类幼虫的变态过程及其机理，对于阐明它们的种群数量变动，促进重要经济双壳贝类增养殖的发展有重要的理论和实践意义。本论文除了用化学物质对几种双壳贝类(海湾扇贝、墨西哥湾扇贝和硬壳蛤)幼虫的变态进行诱导外，主要以激素和神经递质的作用方式为基础，通过直接测定双壳贝类(以海湾扇贝为代表)幼虫体内激素和神经递质、第二信使cAMP等生化物质含量的变化来研究双壳贝类幼虫变态过程中的信息传递途径，从分子生物学和神经生物学角度阐明双壳贝类幼虫变态机理。主要结果如下：1．通过参考国内外大量文献的基础上，较为系统地评述了近二十年来海洋无脊椎动物幼虫附着变态研究的一些进展情况，主要包括诱导因子、附着变态机理模型、人工诱导物的应用和延迟变态四个方面。到目前为止，人们已经发现了许多海洋无脊椎动物幼虫附着变态的诱导物质，主要分为天然诱导物和人工诱导物两大类，一些人工诱导物如GABA、肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素已经在经济贝类苗种生产中得到应用。幼虫附着变态机理模型主要有长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)幼虫附着变态的双调控模型、红鲍(Haliotis rufescens)幼虫附着变态的上行调节模型以及多毛类Phragmatopoma california幼虫附着变态的脂肪酸调控模型。本论文还评述了海洋无脊椎动物幼虫发生延迟变态的原因以及延迟变态对海洋无脊椎动物造成的影响，并提出了解决的方法和今后研究的重点问题。2．在室内用氯化乙酰胆碱、ATP和CaCl_2 3种化学物质对海湾扇贝幼虫的变态进行了诱导实验。结果表明，虽然在个别浓度和处理时间氯化乙酰胆碱和ATP有诱导作用，但总体诱导效果不显著。而10×10~(-3)～40×10~(-3M的CaCl_2在处理12～24h后诱导效果较显著，其诱导效果对处理时间的依赖性较显著，在浓度为40×10~(-3)M和处理时间为24h时诱导效果最好，与对照组相比，变态率提高23.18％。3种诱导物对幼虫死亡率均有显著影响，并且死亡率对浓度和处理时间均有显著的依赖性，浓度越高，处理时间越长，死亡率越高。3．用KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素和氯化胆碱进行了墨西哥湾扇贝(Argopectenirradians concentricus Say)幼虫变态的诱导作用实验。结果表明，KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素和氯化胆碱对墨西哥湾扇贝幼虫变态均有显著诱导作用。KCl在处理时间为12h～48h范围内均有诱导作用；13.42×10~(-3)M和20.13×10~(-3)M的KCl诱导效果较好，变态率平均提高10％以上。1．O×10~(-6)M～50×10~(-6)M的肾上腺素在处理时间为lh～12h较适宜，此时变态率均提高10％以上。1.0×10~(-6)M～50×10~(-6)M的去甲肾上腺素在处理时间为1h～24h都较适宜，变态率平均均提高10％以上，最高可提高31．07％。0.01×10~(-4)M～1.O×10~(-4)M的氯化胆碱在处理时间为12h～48h时诱导效果均较好，它们之间的平均变态提高率并没有显著差别，均在12％～13％之间。10×10~(-4)M的氯化胆碱在处理时间为12h时诱导效果较明显，变态率可以提高19.14％，超过12h，变态率明显下降，100×10~(-4)M的氯化胆碱明显产生毒害作用，幼虫变态率均为零，而幼虫的死亡率均为100％。4．用KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、L-DOPA、5-羟色胺(5-hydroxytryptamine，Serotonin，5-HT)和GABA(γ-氨基丁酸)进行了不同浓度不同处理时间对硬壳蛤(Mercenaria mercenaria L.)幼虫变态诱导实验。结果表明，KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、L-DOPA和5-羟色胺对硬壳蛤幼虫的变态均有诱导作用，而GABA的诱导 作用不显著。KCl的最佳诱导浓度随处理时间不同而有所不同。当处理时间为1～24h时，KCl的最佳诱导浓度为33.56×10~(-3)M，此时幼虫变态率均提高24％以上，当处理时间为48h时，KCl的最佳诱导浓度为20.13～26.85×10~(-3)M，处理时间为72h时，最佳诱导浓度为13.42×10~(-3)M。肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素的诱导作用与浓度和处理时间均有关。肾上腺素的最佳处理浓度为100×10~(-6)M，最佳处理时间均为8h，此时幼虫变态率提高最大，为36.97％。当去甲肾上腺素的诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M，处理时间为8h～16h时，幼虫变态提高率较高，均大于18％，死亡提高率均低于30％，当去甲肾上腺索诱导浓度为500×10~(-6)M时，虽然在8h～16h的处理时间范围内，幼虫变态提高率也较高，均大于18％，但当处理时间超过8h，在16～48h范围内，幼 虫死亡提高率明显升高，均大于50％。L-DOPA的适宜诱导浓度为10×10~(-6)M～50×10~(-6)M，适宜处理时间为8～24h，此时幼虫变态率均提高30％以上，最高可提高79.43％。5-羟色胺的诱导作用较强，其适宜诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M—1000×10~(-6)M，适宜处理时间为0.5～24h，此时幼虫变态率提高均在30％以上，当处理时间为8h时，最佳诱导浓度为1000×10~(-6)M，此时幼虫变态率提高57.5％，当处理时间为24h时，最佳诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M，此时幼虫变态率提高69.29％。GABA的诱导作用较弱，最佳诱导浓度随处理时间的不同而有所不同。处理时间为24h和48h时，最佳诱导浓度为0.1×10~(-6)M；处理时间为0.5～16h时，最佳诱导浓度为100×10~(-6)M。5．KCl、肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺索、L-DOPA、5-羟色胺、GABA、茶碱和咖啡因8种诱导物对不同发育阶段海湾扇贝幼虫变态的诱导作用是不同的。13．42×10~(-3)M和20.13×10~(-3)M的KCl对第12天幼虫的变态有抑制作用，变态提高率为负值；之后当幼虫发育至第13和14天时，两浓度的KCl能够明显诱导幼虫变态，变态提高率均高于20％，而对于第16天的幼虫诱导作用有所减弱，变态提高率有所降低；26.85×10~(-3)M的KCl对第12和13天幼虫的变态均有抑制作用，变态提高率为负值，对第14和16天幼虫的变态却有明显的持续的诱导作用，变态提高率分别为22.98％和37.5％。神经递质肾上腺素、去甲肾上腺素、L-DOPA、5-羟色胺和GABA的诱导作用规律基本相似，即对第13天海湾扇贝幼虫的变态有明显的抑制作用，变态提高率均为负值，而对第14天幼虫的诱导作用较显著。茶碱和咖啡因作为影响细胞内cAMP的物质，它们的诱导作用规律与神经递质有所不同。它们对第13天海湾扇贝幼虫变态的诱导效果最好。6．测定了不同发育阶段及人工诱导后海湾扇贝幼虫体内去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺和5-羟色胺含量的变化规律。结果表明，海湾扇贝幼虫体内去甲肾上腺索含量在变态前和变态后没有明显变化，变态前为2352(pg／mg湿重)，变态后为2770(pg／mg湿重)。多巴胺和5-羟色胺含量在变态前随幼虫的发育而增加，变态前(第13天)急剧增加，第13天的幼虫比第12天的幼虫分别增加了2.8倍和5.7倍，变态后急剧下降，变态后幼苗比第13天的幼虫分别降低了25.1倍和16.4倍。海湾扇贝幼虫体内DA：NE比和5-HT：NE比在变态前和变态后变化比较剧烈。DA：NE比和5-HT：NE比在变态前(第13天)急剧增加，第13天的幼虫比第12天的幼虫增加了3.O倍(DA：NE比)和5.0倍(5-HT:NE比)；变态后急剧降低，变态后幼苗比第13天的幼虫降低了29.8倍(DA：NE比)和19.5倍(5-HT：NE比)。海湾扇贝幼虫经KCl和氯化钙诱导24h后，体内去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺和5-羟色胺以及DA：NE比和5-HT：NE比均有所降低。本实验的结果表明，多巴胺和5-羟色胺可能启动了海湾扇贝幼虫的变态过程。7．茶碱和咖啡因对墨西哥湾扇贝幼虫的变态均有明显诱导作用。它们的诱导作用均对浓度的依赖性较强，对处理时间的依赖性较弱。10×10~(-4)M的茶碱诱导效果最好，平均变态提高率达33％，其次为1.0×10~(-4)M和100×10~(-4)M的茶碱，平均变态提高率分别为23.15％和21.97％。处理时间对茶碱诱导效果影响不显著，在1～24h范围内，平均变态提高率在19.07～26.1％之间变动。10×10~(-4)M的咖啡因诱导效果最佳，4个处理时间的平均变态提高率为36.01％，其次为100×10~(-4)M，平均变态提高率为26.43％。处理时间对茶碱的诱导效果影响不大，在1～24h范围内，平均变态提高率在19.65～22.02％之间变动。8．采用直接测定cAMP的方法来研究cAMP是否参与了海湾扇贝幼虫的变态过程。结果表明，cAMP参与了海湾扇贝幼虫的变态过程。海湾扇贝幼虫体内cAMP含量随着发育阶段的不同而有所变化。在D形幼虫期最低，为73 pmol／(mg蛋白质)；当到达壳顶期幼虫时cAMP含量明显增加，比D形幼虫期提高了12.7倍。从壳顶期幼虫到眼点幼虫(100％，第13天)cAMP含量增加速度较慢，各发育阶段分别比前一发育阶段增加了0.4倍、0.3倍和0.2倍。但当幼虫变态后，体内cAMP含量又急剧增加，幼苗体内cAMP含量比眼点幼虫(100％，第13天)增加了6.1倍。当用KCl、肾上腺索和L-DOPA诱导后，幼虫体内cAMP含量明显增加，分别比对照组提高了7.8倍、1.5倍和10.7倍，说明cAMP参与了这3种诱导物诱导海湾扇贝幼虫变态的过程。9．在前面实验结果和参考有关文献的基础上，初步提出了以海湾扇贝为代表的双壳贝类幼虫变态机理模型：幼虫变态分为两个过程：启动过程和后续过程。当幼虫发育到一定阶段，在外界刺激因子的作用下，体内分泌多巴胺和5-羟色胺，多巴胺和5-羟色胺通过某种信号转导途径(如以DG和IP_3为第二信使)启动变态过程，变态过程启动后，又激活以cAMP为第二信使的信号转导途径(暂时称为后续过程)，两者共同完成了幼虫的变态过程。

Studio di macromolecole associate alla calcificazione in organismi marini

Lo studio riportato in questa tesi ha come scopo l’osservazione e la comprensione dei processi molecolari associati alla deposizione di CaCO3 nei polimorfi di calcite e aragonite nel mollusco gasteropode Haliotis rufescens. In particolare l’attenzione si è focalizzata sullo strato glicoproteico (green layer) che si trova inserito all’interno dell’ipostraco o strato madreperlaceo. Studi precedenti suggeriscono l’ipotesi che il green layer sia una struttura polifunzionale che svolge un ruolo attivo nell’induzione di crescita dei cristalli di carbonato di calcio nella conchiglia. All’analisi microscopica il green layer si presenta come un foglietto trilaminato. Sugli strati esterni è depositata aragonite nella forma prismatica da una parte e sferulitica dall’altra. All’interno è racchiuso un core proteico, formato da glicoproteine e ricco di chitina. Questa struttura tripartita conferisce al guscio calcareo nuove proprietà meccaniche, come la resistenza alle fratture molto maggiore rispetto al minerale naturale. Il green layer è stato trattato in ambiente alcalino, l’unico in grado di solubilizzarlo. È stato ottenuto del materiale proteico che è stato caratterizzato utilizzando SDS-PAGE, colorato con Blu Comassie e all’argento per visualizzarne la componente peptidica. Il green layer è fluorescente, sono state quindi eseguite analisi spettroscopiche sull’estratto peptidico per determinarne le proprietà chimo fisiche (dipendenza dal pH dell’intensità di fluorescenza). Sono stati eseguiti esperimenti di crescita dei cristalli di CaCO3 in ambiente saturo di CaCl2 in assenza e presenza del peptide e in assenza e presenza di Mg++. I cristalli sono stati osservati al microscopio elettronico a scansione (SEM) e al microscopio confocale. Da un punto di vista spettroscopico si osserva che, eccitando l’estratto alcalino del green layer a 280 nm e 295 nm, lunghezze d’onda caratteristiche degli aminoacidi aromatici, si ottiene uno spettro di emissione che presenta una forte banda centrata a 440 nm e una spalla a circa 350 nm, quest’ultima da ascrivere all’emissione tipica di aminoacidi aromatici. L’emissione di fluorescenza dell’estratto dal green layer dipende dal pH per tutte le bande di emissione; tale effetto è particolarmente visibile per lo spettro di emissione a 440 nm, la cui lunghezza d’onda di emissione e l’intensità dipendono dalla ionizzazione di aminoacidi acidi (pKa = 4) e dell’istidina (pKa = 6.5 L’emissione a 440 nm proviene invece da un’eccitazione il cui massimo di eccitazione è centrato a 350 nm, tipica di una struttura policiclica aromatica. Poiché nessun colorante estrinseco viene isolato dalla matrice del green layer a seguito dei vari trattamenti, tale emissione potrebbe derivare da una modificazione posttraduzionale di aminoacidi le cui proprietà spettrali suggeriscono la formazione di un prodotto di dimerizzazione della tirosina: la ditirosina. Questa struttura potrebbe essere la causa del cross-link che rende resistente il green layer alla degradazione da parte di agenti chimici ed enzimatici. La formazione di ditirosina come fenomeno post-traduzionale è stato recentemente acquisito come un fenomeno di origine perossidativa attraverso la formazione di un radicale Tyr ed è stato osservato anche in altri organismi caratterizzati da esoscheletro di tipo chitinoso, come gli insetti del genere Manduca sexta. Gli esperimenti di cristallizzazione in presenza di estratto di green layer ne hanno provato l’influenza sulla nucleazione dei cristalli. In presenza di CaCl2 avviene la precipitazione di CaCO3 nella fase calcitica, ma la conformazione romboedrica tipica della calcite viene modificata dalla presenza del peptide. Inoltre aumenta la densità dei cristalli che si aggregano a formare strutture sferiche di cristalli incastrati tra loro. Aumentando la concentrazione di peptide, le sfere a loro volta si uniscono tra loro a formare strutture geometriche sovrapposte. In presenza di Mg++, la deposizione di CaCO3 avviene in forma aragonitica. Anche in questo caso la morfologia e la densità dei cristalli dipendono dalla concentrazione dello ione e dalla presenza del peptide. È interessante osservare che, in tutti i casi nei quali si sono ottenute strutture cristalline in presenza dell’estratto alcalino del green layer, i cristalli sono fluorescenti, a significare che il peptide è incluso nella struttura cristallina e ne induce la modificazione strutturale come discusso in precedenza. Si osserva inoltre che le proprietà spettroscopiche del peptide in cristallo ed in soluzione sono molto diverse. In cristallo non si ha assorbimento alla più corta delle lunghezze d’onda disponibili in microscopia confocale (405 nm) bensì a 488 nm, con emissione estesa addirittura sino al rosso. Questa è un’indicazione, anche se preliminare, del fatto che la sua struttura in soluzione e in cristallo è diversa da quella in soluzione. In soluzione, per un peptide il cui peso molecolare è stimato tra 3500D (cut-off della membrana da dialisi) e 6500 D, la struttura è, presumibilmente, totalmente random-coil. In cristallo, attraverso l’interazione con gli ioni Ca++, Mg++ e CO3 -- la sua conformazione può cambiare portando, per esempio, ad una sovrapposizione delle strutture aromatiche, in modo da formare sistemi coniugati non covalenti (ring stacking) in grado di assorbire ed emettere luce ad energia più bassa (red shift).

The effect of larval age on morphology and gene expression during ascidian metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is both an ecological and a developmental genetic transition that an organism undergoes as a normal part of ontogeny. Many organisms have the ability to delay metamorphosis when conditions are unsuitable. This strategy carries obvious benefits, but may also result in severe consequences for older larvae that run low on energy. In the marine environment, some lecithotrophic larvae that have prolonged periods in the plankton may begin forming postlarval and juvenile structures that normally do not appear until after settlement and the initiation of metamorphosis. This precocious activation of the postlarval developmental program may reflect an adaptation to increase the survival of older, energy-depleted larvae by allowing them to metamorphose more quickly. In the present study, we investigate morphological and genetic consequences of delay of metamorphosis in larvae of Herdmania momus (a solitary stolidobranch ascidian). We observe significant morphological and genetic changes during prolonged larval life, with older larvae displaying significant changes in RNA levels, precocious migration of mesenchyme cells, and changes in larval shape including shortening of the tail. While these observations suggest that the older H. momus larvae are functionally different from younger larvae and possibly becoming more predisposed to undergo metamorphosis, we did not find any significant differences in gene expression levels between postlarvae arising from larvae that metamorphosed as soon as they were competent and postlarvae developing from larvae that postponed metamorphosis. This recalibration, or convergence, of transcript levels in the early postlarva suggests that changes that occur during prolonged larval life of H. momus are not necessarily associated with early activation of adult organ differentiation. Instead, it suggests that an autonomous developmental program is activated in H. momus upon the induction of metamorphosis regardless of the history of the larva.

Correlating gene expression with larval competence and the effect of age and parentage on metamorphosis in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina

The non-geniculate crustose coralline alga (CCA) Mastophora pacifica can induce the metamorphosis of competent Haliotis asinina (Vetigastropoda) larvae. The ability to respond to this natural cue varies considerably with larval age, with a higher proportion of older larvae (e.g. 90 h) able to metamorphose in response to M. pacifica than younger larvae (e.g. 66 h). Here we document the variation in time to acquisition of competence within a larval age class. For example, after 18 h of exposure to M. pacifica, approximately 15 and 36% of 84 and 90-h-old H. asinina larvae had initiated metamorphosis, respectively. This age-dependent response to M. pacifica is also observed when different aged larvae are exposed to CCA for varying periods. A higher proportion of older larvae require shorter periods of exposure to CCA than younger larvae in order to initiate metamorphosis. In this experiment, as in the previous, a small proportion of young larvae were able to respond to brief periods of CCA exposure, suggesting that they had developed the same state of competency as the majority of their older counterparts. Comparisons of the proportions of larvae undergoing metamorphosis between families reveals that parentage also has a significant (P < 0.05) affect on whether an individual will initiate metamorphosis at a given age. These familial differences are more pronounced when younger, largely pre-competent larvae (i.e. 66 h old) are exposed to M. pacifica, with proportions of larvae undergoing metamorphosis differing by as much as 10 fold between families. As these data suggest that variation in the rate of development of the competent state has a genetic basis, and as a first step towards identifying the molecular basis to this variation, we have identified numerous genes that are differentially expressed later in larval development using a differential display approach. Spatial expression analysis of these genes suggests that they may be directly involved in the acquisition of competence, or may play a functional role in the postlarva following metamorphosis.

Expressed sequence tag analysis of genes expressed during development of the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina

The tropical abalone. Haliotis asinina. is,in ideal species to investigate the molecular mechanisms that control development. growth, reproduction and shell formation in all cultured haliotids. Here we describe the analysis of 232 expressed sequence tags (EST) obtained front a developmental H. asinina cDNA library intended for future microarray studies. From this data set we identified 183 unique gene Clusters. Of these, 90 clusters showed significant homology with sequences lodged in GenBank, ranging in function from general housekeeping to signal transduction, gene regulation and cell-cell communication. Seventy-one clusters possessed completely novel ORFs greater than 50 codons in length, highlighting the paucity of sequence data from molluscs and other lophotrochozoans. This study of developmental gene expression in H. asinina provides the foundation for further detailed analyses of abalone growth, development and reproduction.

Generalised growth models for aquatic species with an application to blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra)

This paper presents a maximum likelihood method for estimating growth parameters for an aquatic species that incorporates growth covariates, and takes into consideration multiple tag-recapture data. Individual variability in asymptotic length, age-at-tagging, and measurement error are also considered in the model structure. Using distribution theory, the log-likelihood function is derived under a generalised framework for the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth models. Due to the generality of the derivation, covariate effects can be included for both models with seasonality and tagging effects investigated. Method robustness is established via comparison with the Fabens, improved Fabens, James and a non-linear mixed-effects growth models, with the maximum likelihood method performing the best. The method is illustrated further with an application to blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) for which a strong growth-retarding tagging effect that persisted for several months was detected

Heritability estimates for growth in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina using microsatellites to assign parentage

The tropical abalone Haliotis asinina is a wild-caught and cultured species throughout the Indo-Pacific as well as being an emerging model species for the study of haliotids. H. asinina has the fastest recorded natural growth rate of any abalone and reaches sexual maturity within one year. As such, it is a suitable abalone species for selective breeding for commercially important traits such as rapid growth. Estimating the amount of variation in size that is attributable to heritable genetic differences can assist the development of such a selective breeding program. Here we estimated heritability for growth-related traits at 12 months of age by creating a single cohort of 84 families in a full-factorial mating design consisting of 14 sires and 6 dams. Of 500 progeny sampled, 465 were successfully assigned to their parents based on shared alleles at 5 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Using an animal model, heritability estimates were 0.48 ± 0.15 for shell length, 0.38 ± 0.13 for shell width and 0.36 ± 0.13 for weight. Genetic correlations were > 0.98 between shell parameters and weight, indicating that breeding for weight gains could be successfully achieved by selecting for shell length.

Generalised growth models for aquatic species with an application to blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra)

This paper presents a maximum likelihood method for estimating growth parameters for an aquatic species that incorporates growth covariates, and takes into consideration multiple tag-recapture data. Individual variability in asymptotic length, age-at-tagging, and measurement error are also considered in the model structure. Using distribution theory, the log-likelihood function is derived under a generalised framework for the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth models. Due to the generality of the derivation, covariate effects can be included for both models with seasonality and tagging effects investigated. Method robustness is established via comparison with the Fabens, improved Fabens, James and a non-linear mixed-effects growth models, with the maximum likelihood method performing the best. The method is illustrated further with an application to blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) for which a strong growth-retarding tagging effect that persisted for several months was detected. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Using an inverse-logistic model to describe growth increments of blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) in Tasmania

A new description of growth in blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) with the use of an inverse-logistic model is introduced. The inverse-logistic model avoids the disadvantageous assumptions of either rapid or slow growth for small and juvenile individuals implied by the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth models, respectively, and allows for indeterminate growth where necessary. An inverse-logistic model was used to estimate the expected mean growth increment for different black-lip abalone populations around southern Tasmania, Australia. Estimates of the time needed for abalone to grow from settlement until recruitment (at 138 mm shell length) into the fishery varied from eight to nine years. The variability of the residuals about the predicted mean growth increments was described with either a second inverse-logistic relationship (standard deviation vs. initial length) or by a power relationship (standard deviation vs. predicted growth increment). The inverse-logistic model can describe linear growth of small and juvenile abalone (as observed in Tasmania), as well as a spectrum of growth possibilities, from determinate to indeterminate growth (a spectrum that would lead to a spread of maximum lengths).

The use of multibeam sonar mapping techniques to refine population estimates of the endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni)

Multibeam sonar mapping techniques provide detailed benthic habitat information that can be combined with the data on species-specific habitat preferences to provide highly accurate calculations of populations in a particular area. The amount of suitable habitat available for the endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) was quantified to aid in obtaining an accurate estimate of the number of remaining individuals at two offshore banks and one island site off the coast of southern California. Habitat was mapped by using multibeam sonar survey techniques and categorized by using rugosity and topographic position analysis. Abalone densities were evaluated by using a remotely operated vehicle and video transect methods. The total amount of suitable habitat at these three sites was far greater than that previously estimated. Therefore, although present estimates of white abalone densities are several orders of magnitude lower than historic estimates, the total population is likely larger than previously reported because of the additional amount of habitat surveyed in this study.

Growth, mortality and recruitment of Omani abalone (Haliotis mariae)

Historical length-frequency data of Oman abalone (Haliotis mariae) from two areas (Sadh and Hadbin) of the Dhofar coast of the Sultanate of Oman were used to estimate growth parameters by nonlinear least square fitting. The results were verified using the ELEFAN I program and then combined to calculate total mortality (Z) and recruitment patterns. The growth parameters values with combined sexes were L sub( infinity ) = 137 mm shell length (SL), K = 0.75 year super(1) and 1.57 year super(1) on Sadh male and female, respectively. The female Z value in Hadbin was 1.55 year super(1) in 1989/90. The 1991 Z value for combined sexes were 2.37 year super(1) in Sadh and 1.66 year super(1) in Hadbin, showing much higher fishing pressure in recent years. There were two recruitment pulses, a major one in January and a minor one in May.

A NOVEL SHELL COLOR VARIANT OF THE PACIFIC ABALONE HALIOTIS DISCUS HANNAI INO SUBJECT TO GENETIC CONTROL AND DIETARY INFLUENCE

Molluscan shells may display a variety of colors, which formation, inheritance, and evolutionary significance are not Well understood. Here we report a new variant of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai that displays a novel orange shell coloration (O-type) that is clearly distinguishable from the Wild green-shelled abalone (G-type). Controlled mating experiments between O- and G-type abalones demonstrated apparent Mendelian segregations (1:1 or 3:1) in shell colors in F-2 families, which support the notion that the O- and G-types are under strict genetic control at a single locus With a recessive o (for orange shell) allele and a dominant G (for green shell) allele. Feeding with different diets caused modifications of shell color within each genotype, ranging from orange to yellow for O-type and green to dark-brown for the G-type, without affecting the distinction between genotypes. A previously described bluish-purple (B-type) shell color was found in one of the putative oo X oG crosses, suggesting that the B-type may be it recessive allele belonging to the same locus. The new O-type variant had no effect on the growth of Pacific abalone on the early seed-stage. This Study demonstrates that shell color in Pacific abalone is subject to genetic control as well as dietary modification, and the latter probably offers selective advantages in camouflage and predator avoidance.

Heat-shock protein70 gene expression in four hatchery Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino populations using for marker-assisted selection

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are molecular chaperones that help organisms cope with stressful conditions. Here, we report on the growth rates and Hsp70 expressions in inbred and hybrid populations of abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino. In abalone, inbred populations expressed more Hsp70 than hybrid populations at all temperatures, except at very high temperatures close to the physiological limit. At benign temperatures, there was a clear trend towards higher Hsp70 expression in inbred than hybrid populations, whereas at higher temperatures, a trend in the opposite direction was observed. The temperature of maximal Hsp70 expression (T-peak) varied with the population type. The T-peak of inbred populations (26 degrees C) was lower than that of the hybrid populations (28 degrees C). The maximal inducible Hsp70 of inbred populations was higher than that of hybrid populations. The results showed a trend towards higher expression in inbred population at a lower temperature. These results provide direct experimental evidence that hybrids can cope with the intrinsic stress even at non-stressful temperatures. The constitutive Hsp70 may therefore be used for marker-assisted selection in a breeding programme.

Identification of quantitative trait loci for growth-related traits in the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

The locations and effects of quantitative trait loci (QTL) were estimated for nine characters for growth-related traits in the Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and SSR genetic linkage map. Twenty-eight putatively significant QTLs (LOD > 2.4) were detected for nine traits (shell length, shell width, total weight, shell weight, weight of soft part, muscle weight, gonad and digestive gland weight, mantle weight and gill weight). The percentage of phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL ranged from 8.0% to 35.9%. The significant correlations (P < 0.001) were found among all the growth-related traits, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were more than 0.81. For the female map, the QTL for growth were concentrated on groups 1 and 4 linkage maps. On the male map, the QTL that influenced growth-related traits gathered on the groups 1 and 9 linkage maps. Genetic linkage map construction and QTL analysis for growth-related traits are the basis for the marker-assisted selection and will eventually improve production and quality of the Pacific abalone.